Welcome to the 2024 Life Sciences Yearbook from the Legal 500 and Legal Business, sponsored by Herbert Smith Freehills.
This yearly publication will offer insight into the issues facing life sciences companies in the wake of Brexit, as well as interviews with leading private practice lawyers in the sector and a data-driven snapshot of the top firms and practitioners from The Legal 500.
In our lead features, Sophie Chan takes a look at the post-pandemic landscape for life sciences regulation in a post-Brexit world, while Marie Johansen Nordland looks at why patents work is booming in the UK.
We also speak to some of The Legal 500’s up-and-coming life sciences stars in London, to find out why they decided to focus on the sector and what they think are the key trends for the years ahead. While AI promises to transform the life sciences world, what won’t change is Sidley’s Zina Chatzidimitriadou’s point that life sciences is an area that ‘affects every single one of us and is human-centred’.
In our Perspectives interview Covington’s Grant Castle looks back at how the industry has shifted over the last 25 years and how the growing personalisation of medicines promises to transform the sector further.
This yearbook is sponsored by Herbert Smith Freehills who write about whether 2024 is the year the UK becomes a globally leading life sciences hub. You can also find out about key issues facing life sciences and healthcare companies in countries from China to Portugal in features from our partner firms.
We hope you enjoy it and find it useful – please do get in touch with any ideas for future articles.
Life Sciences Yearbook 2024
‘Economic and geopolitical pressures continued throughout 2023, making the global business landscape a volatile one. It might even be asked whether disruption is simply the new business norm.’ Global themes in 2023 and outlook The disruption felt globally at the end of 2022 continued to impact life sciences companies and investors in 2023. On M&A …
Life Sciences Yearbook 2024
Introduction As part of its ambition for the United Kingdom to become a tech and science superpower by 2030, in 2023, the government announced a range of initiatives aimed at boosting investment and innovation in the life sciences sector. Innovators will have welcomed the R&D tax relief reforms whilst the Mansion House Compact (the largest …
Life Sciences Yearbook 2024
‘There are so many great new technologies and medicines with potential to make a difference to populations and treatment pathways but key challenges remain in regulating them’ – David Gibson, senior associate at McDermott Will & Emery
Why did you decide to specialise in life sciences law, and what’s the best thing about being a life sciences lawyer? I find the subject matter fascinating, and I am genuinely curious about new technologies and medicines and how they can be used, shared and applied to improve healthcare for patients across the world. We …
Life Sciences Yearbook 2024
The health sector in Portugal, which encompasses the pharmaceutical market, is a prominent and fast-evolving sector that has undergone significant growth in recent decades. Sérvulo & Associados law firm is proud to have a highly specialised, experienced and well-balanced team in the life sciences field. The team covers all the main legal matters of the …
Continue reading “Healthcare and pharmaceutical regulation in Portugal”
Life Sciences Yearbook 2024
Leading life sciences partners size up recent regulatory reforms and assess the UK’s position in a post-Brexit, post-Covid world.
After years of delays caused by geopolitical instability and the Covid-19 pandemic, the new regulatory landscape for the life sciences industry is beginning to take shape in both the UK and the EU.
Life Sciences Yearbook 2024
‘EU regulators are preparing an avalanche of new laws that are going to have a monumental impact on pharma and medtech’ – Baker McKenzie’s Jaspreet Takhar on the future of digital health solutions
What made you decide to specialise in life sciences law? I specialise in advising on digital health solutions – that means advising on the regulation of health data, digital health solutions (including AI solutions, software and medical devices), as well as contracting in this space. I genuinely find the digital health space as exciting as …
Life Sciences Yearbook 2024
‘AI is going to have a transformative impact on the life sciences industry’ – Dr. Chris Boyle, counsel at Sidley, on the risks and opportunities facing the industry
What do you most enjoy about being a life sciences lawyer? My passion for science led me to qualify and practice as a veterinary surgeon before I discovered that scientists and clinicians are uniquely placed to make a big impact in law, and I requalified as a life sciences lawyer. The best thing about being …
Life Sciences Yearbook 2024
‘It is the one legal area that affects every single one of us and is, above all, human-centred’ – Zina Chatzidimitriadou, senior managing associate at Sidley, on why she picked a career in life sciences law
Why did you decide to specialise in life sciences law? In 2009, in my previous life as a molecular biologist at the Cancer Research UK institute, I experienced the multiple issues and complexities facing researchers and people involved in the development of life-saving treatments and methods. Life sciences emerged as the natural field of law …
Life Sciences Yearbook 2024
1. What are the current regulatory frameworks governing the life sciences industry in China, and how have they evolved in recent years? Legislation wise, the Drug Administration Law and its implementation rules are pivotal to the pharmaceutical sector, overseeing the entire lifecycle of chemical and biological products. For medical devices (including in-vitro diagnostics), the Regulations …
Life Sciences Yearbook 2024
China’s life sciences and healthcare (LS&H) industry underwent an unprecedented transformation in 2023 consisting of numerous challenges and opportunities. Within this year, BD transactions primarily included out-licensing of ex-China rights, China commercialisation partnering, asset acquisition and regaining drug product rights, which reflected the courage of China’s LS&H market players to proactively seek changes and rebuild …
Continue reading “China life sciences: transaction insights and notable industry trends”